Clip for pens and pencils



May 17, 1949. J, R. WQODY 2,470,421

CLIP FOR PENS. AND PENCILS Filed July 18, 1947 Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CLIP FOR PENS AND PENCILS Joseph R-` Woody, Navy Yard, Charleston, S. C. Application July 18, 1947, Serial No.. 761,829

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in clips for pens, pencils and similar pocket instruments.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved cap and clip for pocket instruments of the pen and pencil type in which the tension on the clip can be released when the instrument is inserted in or removed from the pocket by the pressure of a finger at the top of the cap, and the clip opened or closed as the pressure of the nger is applied or removed.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the type described which is simple in construction and operation, which is easyy to operate requiring but one hand to place the instrument in or remove the same from the pocket', and which will firmly secure the instrument to the pocket after the clip is in place.

Further objects and features of the invention will be' made fully apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a cap and a clip assembly constructed in accordance with the invention, with the clip in closed position, a portion of the pen covered by the cap being shown in sidevelevation.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the clip in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing portions of Figure 2 on a greatly enlarged scale.

Figure 4. shows the upper portion of a modified form of the cap in side elevation, a portion of the clip being broken away to show underlying construction of the cap.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 but on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a modified form ofv the pivot mount for the In the drawing, the reference numeral I0 indicates a tubular member, having an open in ternally threaded lower end for engaging a correspondingly threaded end on a pen, pencil or similarly shaped pocket instrument II. The tubular member I0 is tapered inwardly at the upper end thereof, as indicated at I2 and the outer end is open, as indicated at I3.

The internal wall of the tubular member I0 is threaded intermediate the length thereof, and a thmble I4 having an enlarged flanged portion I5, which portion is externally circumferentially threaded, is' received in the internal threads of the tubular member I0. The thimble M functions as a point receiving cavity for the instrument received in the cap, and also acts as a closure for the instrument receiving portion of the cap. A second thimble I6' having a skirt inclining inwardly toward the upper end thereof to provide a substantially' conical cam surface, which end is rounded providing a button Il, is positioned above the thimble t4 and is biased upwardly by a spring IB so that thev button Il normally projects through the opening I3; The spring I8' is based on the enlarged flange I5 at the lower end of. the thimble I4 and the upper end of the spring acts on a shouldered portion at the lower end of the thimble I6.

Adjacent the upper tapered end I2 of the tubular member IIII a clip 2l is mounted in a slot 22 formed in the tapered portion I2 of the tubular member IIJ, being pivote'd. on a pivot pin 23 mounted at the lower end' of said slot. The clip 2i extends upwardly :from the pivot pin 23' to a U--bend 25 providing a cam finger extending radially inwardly of member I0 through slot 22.

From bend` 25, cli'p 2`I` extends downwardly to the poclietngaging portion 26. TheV cam ii'nger provided by the U`bend 25' bears upon the outer inclined cam surface oily the upper thimble IIi. The cam finger of the clip i's biased toward the surface of the thimble IIiv by a spring 2A'.

The operation ofthe parts just described will be apparent from a consideration of Figures 1,. 2 and 3 in which Figure I shows the normal closed position of' the clip.' In this position the inclined skirt of the thimble f6 forces the upper end of the clip ZI' outwardly inthe direction of the arrow as this skirt is biased upwardly by the spring I8. It will be seen that in this position the inclined' portion. of the skirt of thimble I6 functions with a wed'ging action upon the cam finger at the upper end' of the clip and thus a great' leverage is obtained forcing the lower end 26 of' the clip toward the surface oil the tubular member I0 so that the hem of a pocket will be securely engaged between the tubular member and the engaging portion 26 of the clip. To open the clip, the user presses up* on the projecting button I'I of the thimble I6 with one finger as he removes or inserts the pencil or other pocket instrument into the pocket. In this position as shown in Figure 2 and on a greatly enlarged scale in Figure 3 the cam imger of the clip swings inwardly through the slot 22 riding upon the inclined surface of the thimble I6 until it rests on the upwardly projecting surface at the outer end of this thimble. The lower end 26 of clip 2| swings outwardly in the direction indicated in Figure 2, permitting the user to insert the same or remove the same from a pocket without material resistance and without wearing and tearing the material of the pocket.

It will be understood that the use of the spring `24 is not essential since pressure on the button IT will release any pressure upon the pocketengaging portion 26 and clip 2|. However, the use of such a spring is preferred since it insures that the clip will swing open in a convenient position for insertion into the pocket.

As shown in Figure 5, the pivot pin 23 may extend through a portion of the wall of the tubular body Il! adjacent the slot 22. In the further modified form of pivot shown in Figure 6, the pivot pin 28 is secured in metal clips 29 engaging the wall of the tubular member ||J at the slot 22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the objects of the invention are attained and an improved cap and clip for pocket instruments is provided in which the tension on the clip can be released when the instrument is inserted or removed from the pocket, and that this operation can be performed easily with one hand. In addition, it will be observed that the construction described presents numerous structural features and advantages. For example, the clip members 2| may be made of a more rigid construction than has heretofore been possible, and the fault of standard clips which tend to work loose, and lose their tension is avoided. The clip is not forced or flexed at the Ibend and may. therefore, be more rugged.

While there has been herein described a certain preferred embodiment of the invention, other embodiments thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art the form shown and the teachings hereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pen or the like, a cap for said pen, said cap comprising a tubular member formed with an open pen-receiving lower end and a tapered open upper end, a first thimble, means for readily detachably securing said thim- :ble in said member to provide a point-receiving cavity, a second thimble in said member upwardly of said first thimble and telescopically receiving said first thimble therein, said second thimble having an upwardly and radially inwardly-inclined skirt providing an outer cam surface and a rounded end portion providing a button adapted to project through the open upper thimble upwardly and project said button thereof upwardly through said open upper end of said member, a clip, pivot means pivotally mounting said clip on said tubular member adjacent said upper end thereof, with a radially-directed opening therethrough,

from a consideration of '4 said clip having a radially-inwardly-directed lever arm rearwardly of said pivot means, said lever arm extending through said opening in said member, spring means operatively associated with said clip and loading said lever arm thereof into engagement with said 4cam surface of said second thimble, said first-named spring being operative through said second thimble to load said clip into engagement with the exterior of said tubular member, and said cam surface and second-named spring causing inward movement of said lever arm whereby to release said clip when said second thimble is depressed downwardly.

2. In combination with a pen or the like, a cap for said pen, said cap comprising a tubular member formed with an open pen-receiving lower end and a tapered open upper end, said tubular member being internally threaded intermediate said ends thereof, a stationary thimble having a flanged portion at its lower end, said flanged portion being externally circumferentially threaded to engage the internal threads of said tubular member, said stationary thimble providing a downwardly-directed pen point-receiving cavity, a movable thimble in said member upwardly of said stationary thimble, said movable thimble having an upwardly-inclined skirt providing a substantially conical cam surface, said movable thimble having an upper cnd extending upwardly through the open upper end of said tubular portion and providing an actuating button, a spring in said cavity in operative engagement with said movable thimble for biasing the same upwardly toward said upper end, a clip, pivot means pivotally mounting said clip on said tubular member adjacent said upper end thereof, said member being formed with a radially-directed opening in the region of said clip, said clip having a cam linger extending into said cavity JOSEPH R. WOODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,609,530 Widmer Dec. 7, 1926 1,702,954 Title Feb. 19, 1929 1,813,396 Gordon July 7, 1931 2,010,466 Robbins Aug. 6, 1935 2,224,162 Rosa Dec. 10, 1940 2,237,155 Malls Apr. 1, 1941 2,293,430 Forrest Aug. 18, 1942 

